Help

Newsletter

Q&A: Jaguars linebacker Geno Hayes

Bruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com The Jaguars' Geno Hayes (55) runs back an interception of a ball intended for C.J. Spiller in the first quarter of Jacksonville's loss to Buffalo Sunday.

Linebacker Geno Hayes has turned out to be productive free agent signing for the Jaguars.

Signed to a modest two-year deal for $1.95 million in the offseason, Hayes has started every game and made his second interception of the season Sunday against Buffalo. He came back twice after being forced out when a chronic knee injury flared up. He still played 53 snaps and coach Gus Bradley said they expect him to play Sunday even though he may miss some practice time this week.

Hayes, a six-year veteran originally drafted on the sixth round out of Florida State by Tampa Bay where he first met Bradley, talked to Vito Stellino of the Times-Union about his injury, his season and his future.

How’s the right knee?

It’s something I’ve been working with all year. I aggravated it a little bit. I had surgery in my rookie year when I tore my MCL and PCL and some meniscus stuff. I just play with it.

How has your first season with the Jaguars gone?

The first half of the season as kind of a little slow. I’m getting used to the scheme now and learning what you’re supposed to do and how you’re supposed to do things. The second half has been more consistent knowing what’s going on with the scheme.

You left Tampa Bay for Chicago as a free agent last year and then signed with the Jaguars this year. Why did you make the switch?

The Bears wanted me to stay but I thought I was a better fit here. I knew the coaching staff. I was with Gus in Tampa and with (defensive coordinator) Bob Babich in Chicago last year and it was a chance to come back home to Florida.

Were you heavily recruited as a high school player coming out of Greenville?

I had 16, 17 scholarship offers from big schools and thought about going to USC but then I looked at the cost of flights going back and forth from the West Coast to Florida. It was a lot easier for my family to watch me play at Florida State.

You’ve had a long career as a late round pick. Do you think you beat the odds?

I love the part about coming in as an underdog. At the end of the day, I don’t worry about what people are thinking about me. My uncle told me a long time ago that the underdog always wins and the cream rises to the top.

Do you worry about keeping your starting job next year if they sign a free agent linebacker or draft one high?

That’s not a concern. You don’t worry about those kinds of things. Worrying about something like that knocks you off your game. I just want to go out and play to the best of my ability.

Do you think about how long you want to play?

I have a five-year plan. I sat down at the start of the year and put together my plan. Hopefully, I’ll push it out another six or seven years.

What is your five-year plan?

(Laughing.) I can’t tell you the plan. It’s my plan. I can’t give out my secrets. My wife (a manager for a high end retail store) and I put together plans for the both of us. She has hers and I have mine.